I have started working on "Little Girl Pink Blanket" from caron.com. I'm having some trouble starting the body pattern. I knit the first 5 rows, and then on row 6 kfb in pattern as stated, and i end up with said 152 stitches. no problem with any of that. the problem starts with row 7 - after following the pattern for that row i NEVER EVER end up with the 8 stitches to knit at the end like i should...i have no clue what i'm doing wrong...i have attempted twice and once i ended up wiht 6 and once with 7...please help!

I have posted part of the pattern below.

CO 145 sts loosely. Work back and forth in rows using circular needle.

Well, the pattern all checks out ok. In row 7, the number of yo and ssk equal each other so you should start the row with 152sts and end the row with 152. The repeat between the asterisks takes 19sts and is repeated 7 times. Count off the 19 stitch repeat and see if you can tell where you're using up more than 19sts.
It's frustrating but once you put in markers this all becomes easier.

Well, the pattern all checks out ok. In row 7, the number of yo and ssk equal each other so you should start the row with 152sts and end the row with 152. The repeat between the asterisks takes 19sts and is repeated 7 times. Count off the 19 stitch repeat and see if you can tell where you're using up more than 19sts.
It's frustrating but once you put in markers this all becomes easier.

Absolutely use markers to separate the pattern repeats! I've made this blanket and using markers helps tremendously so you can concentrate on one repeat at a time.

Yes, either kind of marker will do.
Check the videos for yo at the top of the page under Glossary just to make sure that you're doing the yo correctly. It shouldn't take a stitch, it's just placing the yarn over the right needle between stitches. If you use a stitch for the yo that may be why you finish the row without enough sts. You should also have 7 repeats marked off.

I have watched both the videos for yo and ssk...and i'm doing them correctly. Just to verify for the yo specific to this pattern i am to put the yarn over the needle and then knit into the next stitch correct? and then slip 2 and then knit them together?

should i be counting the yo as a stitch in the repeat?

I refuse to give up on this one so i have to get it figured out!

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OTH: ripple afghan for husband and a couple different baby blankets!

Just to verify for the yo specific to this pattern i am to put the yarn over the needle and then knit into the next stitch correct? and then slip 2 and then knit them together?

Nope, you don't knit a stitch when doing a yo, unless it's in the pattern. If it reads 'yo k1, ssk', then you do, but this is just yo ssk, so you wrap the yarn, slip the 2 sts (separately) and knit them together. The decrease anchors the yo.

I have watched both the videos for yo and ssk...and i'm doing them correctly. Just to verify for the yo specific to this pattern i am to put the yarn over the needle and then knit into the next stitch correct? and then slip 2 and then knit them together?

I think you've just figured it out. The yo isn't followed by a knit st, it's followed immediately by the slip2, knit them together.
When you finish the repeat, yes, count the yo (which is a loop on the needle after all) as a stitch.